One year, my parents did something unheard of in my family: They invited a guest to dinner. It was Thanksgiving after all, time to be generous right? Our next door neighbor, an elderly man we kids called Mr. T came to supper.

As Christmas and Chanukah represent ideals that have been distorted over the years, it is our job to stay true to these ideals and challenge the distortions, even while celebrating the moments of hope.